lifestyle – Fibromyalgia Podcast®

Episode 51: Coping with Isolation with Jodi Taub

December 8, 2020 1:01:41

While 2020 has been a year of social isolation for everyone, many of us with fibromyalgia were already too familiar with isolation. Pain and fatigue often keeps us from enjoying social events and interferes with our relationships.

In this episode, Tami interviews Jodi Taub, a psychotherapist with multiple chronic illnesses of her own, about how we can protect our mental health and cope with social isolation and the loss of our holidays — whether it was brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic or simply fibromyalgia.

In addition, Jodi provides practical advice on how to know if it’s just sadness vs. clinical depression and what steps to take to get the help you need. Jodi says, “We didn’t choose to have our diseases, but we can choose to make things easier.”

Episode 50: Should I Take Medication For Fibromyalgia? Ask The Coach

November 24, 2020 42:46

In this Ask the Coach episode, Tami answers the question, “Should I take medication for fibromyalgia?”

The good news is that there are many ways of treating fibromyalgia. It’s not a choice between medication or nothing! Instead, you get to choose whether or not medication is the right choice for you AND if you want to try other treatment options.

Tami gives six key points to consider as you make your choice. As always, anyone wishing assistance in this decision-making process should consider scheduling a consultation for more personalized assistance.

Episode 49: Understanding Your Capacity Using The Bucket Theory

November 10, 2020 31:14

You’re going along fine and then BOOM! Fibromyalgia flare! You try to figure out what pushed you over the edge this time and it all seems so minor.

But our mental, physical, and emotional capacity isn’t defined by one thing. Instead, our capacity is more like a bucket. All the little — and big! — things go in the bucket and add up. If you’re not careful, your bucket overflows and that’s when you trigger a flare.

The Bucket Theory is a way of understanding your capacity so that you can make better choices that lead to less pain, more energy, and fewer flare ups.

Episode 48: You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know

October 27, 2020 1:06:14

There are things you know you don’t know, like rocket science, maybe. But there are also many things that you don’t know that you don’t know, like your unconscious habits or how your body will respond to a particular fibromyalgia treatment option you never knew existed.

In this special replay, Eva Minkoff, host of the Humancare podcast, interviews Tami to uncover the two lowest points in Tami’s fibromyalgia journey, the thing that turned it all around for her, and how she guides her clients into “knowing what you don’t know.”

Be warned! There is a lot of laughter and fun in this episode! In fact, Tami describes this interview as one of the most fun interviews she’s ever done! Enjoy!

Episode 47: Write Your Body’s Owner’s Manual

October 13, 2020 39:22

Ever wish you had an owner’s manual for your body? Something you could reference to see exactly what to do to keep your body feeling its best?

Often, it seems like fibromyalgia symptoms create a guessing game of, “What did I do this time?” One minute you’re fine, the next you’ve crossed the line into a fibromyalgia flare. In this episode, you’ll learn how to write your very own owner’s manual for your body. Tami calls this your “Book of You”, a guide to managing your fibromyalgia symptoms and creating more predictable energy and pain levels. Included in this episode are prompts and examples to help you begin.

Episode 46: Clearing Fibromyalgia Brain Fog

September 29, 2020 35:21

Brain fog can be one of the most difficult fibromyalgia symptoms to treat. Many doctors don’t know what to do with our brain fog and act as if it will take care of itself once our pain and fatigue is managed. However, there are many tips, tricks, and tools that you can use to set up your life so that brain fog has a smaller impact.

In this episode, Tami shares her top ten brain fog tips and the tools she uses every day to stay on top of her business and personal life. All ten of these tips you can implement right now, today. No prescription or doctor required!

Episode 45: Fibromyalgia Stories of Hope and Healing

September 15, 2020 1:02:13

Four Clients Share Their Fibromyalgia Stories — Tami interviews four clients on the ways that they have found to improve their fibromyalgia symptoms over the last few months. You’ll hear how a mindset shift helped Joyce take ownership of her treatment plan. Julee shares how her 15-year chronic illness journey of 26 surgeries, bedrest, feeding tubes, sepsis, and more, taught her the importance of having fun and seeking joy. Trial and error, along with guidance from her coach and education on what options were available to her, helped Chantal get better sleep and lower her pain levels. Gisèle found clarity and solutions through putting pen to paper in class assignments.

You’ll also hear from our August 2020 commencement speaker, Sharon Waldrop, President of the Fibromyalgia Association of Michigan, as she shares encouragement and wisdom with our new graduates. She says, “Life sometimes seems impossible, but there’s always a way. You just haven’t thought of it yet.”

Episode 44: Design Your Fibromyalgia Dream Week

September 1, 2020 1:22:55

9 Steps To Making Your Calendar Work For You — What would it feel like to have to have a schedule that supported your body feeling great? Even better, what would it look like if your calendar could help you get better?

You may think this sounds impossible. When Tami was first diagnosed with fibromyalgia, she discovered she could really only leave the house once a week and continue to feel her best. She felt like a slave to her calendar and prisoner in her own body. However, learning to protect her body’s healing time gave Tami more control over her health and symptoms. This helped her to have more stable and predictable good days and energy.

In this episode, Tami shares the Dream Week process she developed over a decade ago to help her body heal. Included in the links below are the Dream Week Planner worksheets for you to download and use along with Tami as she walks you through designing your very own Dream Week.